Mexico lost their final match in 2025 by a 2-1 score against Paraguay in a game that raises alarm bells. Once again Mexico had a good first half but a bad start to the 2nd half, led to a very worrying
loss. Mexico was already coming in with doubts after the reaction to their 0-0 tie and Coach Javier Aguirre will have a lot of work as Mexico has fallen off with a very poor 2nd half of 2025, where they have failed to get a victory after winning the 2025 Gold Cup. Mexico will now be working in getting a tour in Central America for January in a non FIFA date time as Mexico once again suffers from a black day after early being eliminated in the 2025 U17 World Cup
The 1st half started with Mexico making seven changes to the starting 11 from the match against Uruguay, the main one being Luis Malagon at starting goalkeeper but the most notable was Edson Alvarez and Jesus Orozco starting at centerbacks. Paraguay scored off a corner kick but the foul had been whistled for a foul even before the ball was headed. A left footed shot from Miguel Almiron was blocked which allowed Malagon to easily get to the ball. After a foul called on Paraguay, the players started to protest heavily to the referee and the ref would give a red card to a trainer from Paraguay’s bench. Off a free kick, Gilberto Mora surprised by getting off a shot instead of a cross that forced a save from Paraguay’s goalkeeper, Orlando Gill. The ball was crossed into the area eventually but Raul Jimenez’s header was easily saved by Gill. A cross into the area fell to Alvarez but his left footed shot went past Gill and then hit the post and then was cleared by Paraguay’s defense. A cross into the area was cleared by Malagon in a save that should have been avoided. Off a free kick, a shot from outside the area from Alan Benitez was saved by Malagon. Eventually the ball would end with Ramon Sosa getting off a right footed shot that Malagon saved. The halftime whistle blew and once again Mexico had been the better team but went to the break without a goal.
The 2nd half started with Paraguay subbing out Diego Gomez and Miguel Almiron for Damian Bobadilla and Julio Enciso. A cross into the area would be placed in by Antonio Sanabria after crashing into Malagon but the goal was called of for a foul. Malagon would need medical attention. After going to VAR, the goal was allowed and Paraguay had the 1-0 lead. After getting past Braian Ojeda, Orbelin Pineda got into the area where he would be dropped by Ojeda and a Penalty Kick was given to Mexico. Raul Jimenez stepped up to take the PK and he would get off a great right footed shot past Gill to score and tie the match at 1-1. A minute later after that controversial goal, it was tied again. Paraguay would answer back when a cross into the area would be badly cleared and a shot into the area was badly handled by Malagon and the ball would be left there for Enciso to cross into the area where Aldo Bobadilla would head the ball past Malagon to score and give Paraguay the 2-1 lead. Mexico subbed out Mateo Chavez, Jorge Ruvalcaba and Jesus Orozco for Jesus Gallardo, Roberto Alvarado and Johan Vasquez. A great cross into the area from Alvarado would be headed wide by Jimenez. Mexico subbed out Israel Reyes and Gilberto Mora for Kevin Alvarez and Armando Gonzalez. Paraguay subbed out Antonio Sanabria and Ramon Sosa for Alex Arce and Diego Gonzalez. Enciso got off a right footed shot from outside the area that went wide. Mexico subbed out Marcel Ruiz for Erick Sanchez. Paraguay subbed out Matias Galarza for Junior Alonso. After people made the notorious chant, the match was stopped for the anti discriminatory stoppage. On a 1 vs 1, Enciso tried to lob the ball but Malagon came up with the save. Paraguay subbed out Braian Ojeda for Lucas Romero. A cross into the area was deflected by Paraguay’s defense into the path of Gallardo, but he volleyed it well wide. A cross into the area fell to Gonzalez but his shot was blocked from close range by Malagon. Mexico tried but couldn’t do so and a terrible 1st half raises alarm bells for Mexico.
It was another black day for Mexican football. A month after Mexico lost to Argentina in the Quarterfinals of the U20 World Cup and later on lost a friendly to Colombia by a 4-0 score, history repeats itself. Mexico went out in the Round of 16 of the 2025 U17 World Cup by a crushing 5-0 score earlier in the day and the lost against Paraguay by a 2-1 score. After a disappointing result for many fans against Uruguay on Saturday, Mexico needed a result and instead now gets the result they didn’t need and which will make things worse for them. Mexico was the better team in the 1st half but got surprised in the 2nd with the substitution of Julio Enciso giving a boost to the South American sides. Worse yet was that mistakes from goalkeeper, Luis Malagon, are increasing the doubts in what is clearly Mexico’s weakest position. Mexico is supposed to have action on January when they face off against possible Central American teams during the Non FIFA break. This should be a Liga MX based side where now Aguirre will need a lot of maneuvering action, as time is of the essence. The major problem will be Mexico won’t face another FIFA break until March, where they are expected to face off against Portugal and maybe Belgium although the matches haven’t been announced. Mexico will need to work a lot because the recent results have not helped things but actually increased the pressure that was already a problem after the late start that wasted two years with ex managers Diego Cocca and Jaime Lozano.
